Scottish Executive

Asylum Seekers

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it was advised of any further proposed extension of Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations regarding the impact of any further proposed extension to Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-2928 by Ms Margaret Curran on 23 October 2003, when it first became aware of any proposed further extension to Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre and whether there are any other plans to (a) extend or (b) make alterations to the centre.

Ms Margaret Curran: The operation and management of Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre is a matter for the Home Office. The Scottish Executive has not been advised of any plans to expand Dungavel, further to the 43 bed unit which was announced by the Home Office in March 2004.

Asylum Seekers

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether South Lanarkshire Council has been advised of any further proposed extension of Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local residents have been advised of any further proposed extension of Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Home Office is responsible for the operation and management of Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre and for advising relevant parties about any developments at the centre.

Asylum Seekers

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the current capacity of Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre, broken down into single person units, shared accommodation and individual family units, and what the capacity of the centre will be following any further proposed extension.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many adults and children who are unrelated to each other will be detained in Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre's shared facilities, following any proposed further extension of the centre.

Ms Margaret Curran: This Scottish Executive does not hold this detailed information as the Home Office is responsible for the operation and management of Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre.

Asylum Seekers

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-2930 by Ms Margaret Curran on 23 October 2003, what the outcome was of the minister raising with the Home Office the specific issue of fingerprinting and photographing of visitors to Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre.

Ms Margaret Curran: I understand that fingerprints and photographs of visitors are taken as part of security procedures at Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre and are destroyed after seven days.

Asylum Seekers

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-2671 by Ms Margaret Curran on 7 October 2003, what the outcome was of the minister conveying to Her Majesty's Government the concerns of the Parliament about the detention of children at Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre, as referred to in the resolution of the Parliament on 11 September 2003.

Ms Margaret Curran: The concern of members' about the detention of children at Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre was noted by the Home Office. You will be aware that following the publication of the Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons inspection report on the centre, changes have been made by the Home Office, for example, the express authority of the immigration minister is required to detain children for longer than 28 days.

Blind and Partially-Sighted People

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the Royal National Institute of the Blind's report, Unseen: Neglect, isolation and household poverty amongst older people with sight loss , what steps will be taken to increase the number of rehabilitation officers for blind and partially-sighted people.

Mr Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-7896 given on 12 May 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Broadcasting

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government regarding Scotland's preparedness for the forthcoming switch-over from analogue to digital television signals.

Mr Frank McAveety: Officials hold regular meetings with the joint DCMS/DTI Digital Television Project Team, and ministers are kept aware of developments.

  In her statement of 19 May to the House of Commons (Col 53WS), Tessa Jowell, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, confirmed the UK Government's belief that switchover between 2006 and 2010 remains attainable, but that more concerted action by broadcasters, retailers and manufacturers, supported by Government and Ofcom, is required if the full benefits of digital television are to be made available to the whole population within the desired period.

Concessionary Travel

John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-5121 by Nicol Stephen on 23 January 2004, whether this matter has now been raised with the Confederation for Passenger Transport and the operator concerned and, if so, what the outcome of these representations was.

Nicol Stephen: Following consultation, the bus operator is now able to allow concessionary passengers to undertake a cross-boundary journey on the same vehicle. A split fare is available comprising free travel to the scheme boundary and the appropriate fare for the remainder of the journey. Similar arrangements apply to return journeys.

Cremation

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will call in South Lanarkshire Council's application for a crematorium at Sydes Brae, High Blantyre, due to the level of public concern.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The planning application has been notified to the Scottish ministers and is currently being considered. Whilst all relevant issues will be considered, including the level of public concern, it would be premature at this stage to indicate whether or not the Scottish ministers will call the application in for their own determination.

Cremation

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7507 by Mr Andy Kerr on 10 May 2004, what evidence South Lanarkshire Council has presented in respect of its preparation of a business case for a crematorium at Sydes Brae, High Blantyre.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The papers accompanying the planning application, as notified to the Scottish ministers by South Lanarkshire Council, include an assessment of demand for cremations in South Lanarkshire for the period 2004 to 2018 having regard to death level and population projections for the same period calculated by the Registrar General for Scotland. The Council also provided an assessment of a number of potential sites, including Sydes Brae, having regard to, amongst other things , the development plan designation, environmental and amenity impact, ground conditions and availability of access. A report of a postal survey of the full South Lanarkshire Citizen's Panel and the conclusions of two focus groups were also submitted.

Cremation

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been undertaken into any displacement effects that the development of the crematorium in High Blantyre is likely to have and what associated job losses will occur at Linn and Daldowie crematoria operated by Glasgow City Council.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: This is a matter for South Lanarkshire and Glasgow City Councils to consider. Glasgow City Council have not, however, objected to South Lanarkshire Council about the proposal.

Cremation

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what waste management strategies are in place for the safe disposal of mercury filters in the development of new crematoria.

Ross Finnie: The disposal of waste, including mercury filters, is governed by the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and related legislation, notably (in the case of hazardous waste such as mercury) the Special Waste Regulations 1996 (as amended). The main aim of this legislation is protection of public health and the environment.

  Application of environmental legislation to new crematoria is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Any planning considerations when developing new crematoria are, of course, a matter for the planning authority.

Cremation

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for the implementation of waste management strategies for the safe disposal of mercury filters at crematoria.

Ross Finnie: Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 implementation of waste management measures to protect public health and the environment is the statutory responsibility of those who deposit, treat, keep and/or dispose of waste. The regulatory body, which is responsible for the application of waste management legislation, is the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Dentistry

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many dental practices have ceased providing NHS dental services in each year since 1999.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information is provided in the following tables. Dental practices that ceased providing NHS general dental services for a temporary period only may be included in these figures. For comparison the number of practices in Scotland that have commenced providing NHS general dental services in the same period are also provided.

  Number of Dental Practices in Scotland that have Ceased Providing NHS General Dental Services1,2

  


Year

No. of Practices



1999

13



2000

13



2001

17



2002

19



2003p

20



  Number of Dental Practices in Scotland that have Commenced Providing NHS General Dental Services1,2

  


Year

No. of Practices



1999

23



2000

13



2001

20



2002

21



2003P

23



  PProvisional.

  Notes:

  1. Source - MIDAS (Management Information & Dental Accounting System).

  2. Some NHS general dental practices may cease providing NHS services permanently, while some may do so only temporarily.

Dentistry

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost was of NHS general dental service dentistry in the last full year for which figures are available and broken down into (a) the amount paid by (i) patients and (ii) the taxpayer, expressed also in percentage terms and (b) the total cost of (i) continuing care patients, (ii) capitation payments, (iii) opening a surgery out of hours and (iv) item of service payments in respect of treatment carried out on patients who are exempted from dental charges.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information requested is shown in the table below.

  NHS General Dental Services Expenditure: 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003

  


Heading

Amount (£)



Total Costs1

190,551,954 (100%)



Patient Charges

54,685,004 ( 29%) 



Net amount paid by NHS Boards/Primary Care Trusts2

135,866,950 ( 71%)



Continuing Care Fees3

13,847,341



Capitation Fees3

24,115,020



Item 35(b) 4

869,350



Item of Service Fees for Patients Remitted From Dental Charges5

37,662,873



Item of Service Fees for Patients Exempt From Dental Charges6

23,689,701



  Notes:

  1. Total gross expenditure on general dental services, including the costs of the salaried service.

  2. Paid by taxpayer

  3. Salaried general dental practitioners do not receive continuing care or capitation fees.

  4. Item 35(b) is the recalled attendance fee paid to independent general dental practitioners to reopen their surgeries and provide emergency NHS treatment when the surgery would not normally be open.

  5. The term "remitted" covers patients where they or their partners receive income support, working families' tax credit, disabled person's tax credit or income-based jobseeker's allowance. Salaried general dental practitioners do not claim item of service fees in respect of exempt patients treated by them and consequently these are not included. The figure represents 100% of the total cost and not the 80% a "paying" patient would pay.

  6. Exempt patients are those under 18, those 18 and in full-time education, and pregnant women and nursing mothers. The figure shown represents 100% of the total cost of treatment, not the 80% that a "paying" patient would pay.

Dentistry

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish details of its discussions with the dental profession about the provision of free dental check-ups from (a) NHS and (b) non-NHS dentists.

Mr Tom McCabe: No. We are continuing our discussions with the dental profession on the method of implementing free dental check-ups.

Energy Efficiency

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure an increased take-up rate of Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative (SCHRI) grants over the next 18 months.

Lewis Macdonald: Interest in the SCHRI continues to grow as a result of the promotional activities being undertaken by our network of project officers throughout Scotland. A national media campaign is also being planned which will further promote the support available to individual householders through the scheme.

Energy Efficiency

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been any take-up of the extension of Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative grants to builders and developers.

Lewis Macdonald: The Energy Saving Trust is currently in contact with a number of builders who have expressed interest and the first seven applications are expected shortly.

Energy Efficiency

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that builders and developers apply for Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative (SCHRI) grants.

Lewis Macdonald: New marketing initiatives, unique to Scotland, are being targeted specifically at builders. These, together with the publicising of case studies of the first grants, are aimed at producing a gradual increase in take-up of this element of the SCHRI.

Ferry Services

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome was of its discussions with the European Commission on the implications of the European Court of Justice Altmark ruling for the tendering of the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services.

Nicol Stephen: The decision of the European Court of Justice in the Altmark case raised speculation by commentators about the possible implications for the tendering of the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services. I met recently with the Commission to discuss the possible effects of Altmark on the Executive's plans for those services. Following that meeting it is now clear that there continues to be a requirement on the Executive to tender the services.

  The reasons for this are:

  The Altmark case concerned the question of whether a payment constituted state aid. The requirements for public tendering of ferry services stem from the Maritime Cabotage Regulation. This regulation has a different Treaty base to the State aid rules. The Altmark judgement therefore does not affect the issue of whether public tendering is required.

  The Maritime Cabotage Regulation states that, where a member state concludes public service contracts or imposes public service obligations, it shall do so on a non-discriminatory basis in respect of all Community shipowners. The Commission could not envisage any circumstances in which the requirements of this regulation could be satisfied in relation to the Clyde and Hebrides services without tendering. The Altmark judgement did not change its view on this issue in any way.

  The Executive expects to begin the tendering process later this year. This is the best way forward in order to help provide the necessary certainty of service provision that communities need. In coming to this conclusion, I have taken account of the meeting I had on 29 April 2004 with the Cabinet of Mrs De Palacio, the European Commissioner for Transport and Energy. This confirmed both the general principles involved and the detailed legal and practical issues related to the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services.

  I have decided that there should be a further round of consultation on the service specification for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services. This will provide all of those with an interest the opportunity to provide comment on the draft service specification prior to the services being tendered. It is anticipated this consultation exercise will be launched by September. I am proposing a consultation period of two months to allow sufficient time for those individuals, groups and bodies to make their views known to the Executive.

  Discussions are on-going about separate proposals for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service and a further announcement on that will be made in due course.

First Minister

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to ensure that the circumstances surrounding the invitation to the First Minister to visit Normandy on the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings are not repeated.

Mr Andy Kerr: The procedures for handling such matters are under constant review.

Justice

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that Scottish cases heard before any newly-formed UK Supreme Court will receive a fair hearing under Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, if the majority of judges are not qualified in Scots law.

Cathy Jamieson: The Executive is satisfied that the composition of the proposed new UK Supreme Court satisfies the requirements of Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Livestock

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to S2W-8397 by Allan Wilson on 4 June 2004, whether it has received any advice on the value of (a) Knocknagael, (b) Beechwood and (c) Balrobert farm and whether it has received any advice from the Crofters Commission regarding these matters.

Allan Wilson: Ministers are advised from time to time on matters relating to the value of the properties they own. A professional valuation has to be carried out every five years for inclusion in the annual accounts. These properties were last valued as at 31 March 2003 by Bidwells Property Consultants when their existing use value was estimated as follows:

  Knocknagael and Balrobert £1,324,000 (estimated market value £1,424,000)

  Beechwood £755,000 (estimated market value £755,000)

  The Crofters Commission does not provide advice on valuation matters but does manage the properties at Knocknagael, Beechwood and Balrobert owned by Scottish ministers.

Ministerial Visits

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on travel within Scotland, to other parts of the United Kingdom and abroad, by the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport and his predecessor ministers in their official capacity in each year from 1999-2000 to 2003-04 and what the budget is for such travel in 2004-05.

Mr Andy Kerr: I refer to the answers to questions S1W-29052 given on 9 September 2002 and S2W-2904 given on 29 September 2003, for information regarding the costs of overseas travel undertaken by Tourism, Culture and Sport Ministers for the period 1 July 1999 to 31 March 2003.

  Information on the costs of overseas travel undertaken by the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport for the period 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 is provided today in the answer to S2W-9345, the annual parliamentary question on costs of ministerial visits overseas.

  The budget for the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport's office for 2004-05 is £15,000. This covers accommodation and all types of travel for the Minister and his Private Office staff.

  A record of the costs incurred by Tourism, Culture and Sport Ministers for the period 1 July 1999 to 31 March 2004 on travel within Scotland and other parts of the United Kingdom could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Ministerial Visits

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many overseas visits have been undertaken by the (a) First Minister, (b) Minister for Finance and Public Services and (c) Deputy Minister for Finance, Public Services and Parliamentary Business, giving dates and locations in each case.

Mr Andy Kerr: I refer to the answers to questions S1W-29052 given on 9 September 2002 and S2W-2904 given on 29 September 2003 for information regarding the dates, locations and costs of overseas travel by the First Minister, Minister for Finance and Public Services and Deputy Minister for Finance, Public Services and Parliamentary Business for the period 1 July 1999 to 31 March 2003.

  Information on the costs of overseas travel by these ministers for the period 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 is provided today in the answer to S2W-9345, the annual parliamentary question on costs of ministerial visits overseas.

Ministerial Visits

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all overseas engagements carried out by Ministers and the costs of these visits in 2003-04.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is set out in the following table.

  The cost given for each visit includes all flight, accommodation and other expenses.

  Engagements marked * were at zero cost to the Executive; the costs of members' attendance at Committee of the Regions meetings are paid for by the Committee of the Regions.

  Before any overseas engagement is approved, it must represent good value for the Executive and the taxpayer.

  Overseas engagements carried out by Scottish Executive Ministers during the Financial Year 2003-04

  


Date of Visit

End Date (if different)

Location

Event

Minister(s)

Cost of Minister's Travel and Subsistence
(£)



29/03/2004 

30/03/2004 

Belgium 

Attended a Justice and Home Affairs Council and met with a number of Member State Interior Ministers.

Cathy Jamieson

589.7



22/03/2004 

23/03/2004 

Belgium 

Attended an Agriculture and Fisheries Council.

Allan Wilson

872.9



22/03/2004 

23/03/2004 

France 

Gave address to the Spring session of the CLRAE Chamber of Regions on the work of REGLEG.

Jack McConnell

1,450.72



19/03/2004 

21/03/2004 

Estonia 

Attended the launch of the UK "Crossroads of Ideas" campaign.

Tavish Scott

1,154.66



20/02/2004 

23/02/2004 

China 

Attended the 9th China International Education Exhibition. Also undertook a number of education and SDI related visits and meetings.

Lewis Macdonald

4,178.27



18/02/2004 

19/02/2004 

Belgium 

Attended conference titled "Districts of Creativity meet @ Flanders" organised by the Flanders regional government. Led delegation comprising representatives of Scottish Enterprise and Scottish business.

Lewis Macdonald

428.7




17/02/2004 

19/02/2004 

France 

Meeting with French Ministers Sarkozy, Plagnol and Lenoir; launch of Entente Cordiale; and SDI related meetings.

Jack McConnell

1,457.03




16/02/2004 

19/20/2004

USA 

Undertook a series of visits and meetings about the US criminal justice process and discussed the system with those managing and delivering the service.

Cathy Jamieson

5,635.20



11/02/2004 

12/02/2004 

Belgium 

Attended a meeting of the Committee of the Regions.

Nicol Stephen

0.00*



01/02/2004 

02/02/2004 

Norway 

Met Mr Sven Ludvigsen, the Norwegian Fisheries Minister to discuss finding alternative solutions to trade protection measures.

Allan Wilson

160



22/01/2004 

23/01/2004 

Portugal 

Attended a conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe. Also discussed the future of structural funds with similar European sub-member state government, region and member state representatives.

Lewis Macdonald

943.4



19/01/2004 

20/01/2004 

Belgium 

Launched the "New Europe" film series in Scotland House. Also met Viviane Reding EU Commissioner for Education and Culture, Paul Dujardin, Director of the Palais des Beaux-Arts, and Mr Jelle Bakker, Director of European Bureau for Less-Used Languages.

Frank McAveety

397.7



11/01/2004 

17/01/2004 

USA 

Visited Boston, New York and Houston and undertook series of meetings, and visits across the electronics, life sciences, financial services and energy sectors; 

Jim Wallace

5,276.25



Undertook a series of interviews and met a number of Scottish companies operating in the USA. Attended the inaugural Robert Burns Memorial Lecture at the United Nations with Secretary General Kofi Annan. Presented awards at the Scottish Space School graduation ceremony in Houston. 



15/12/2003 

18/12/2003 

Belgium 

Attended an Agriculture and Fisheries Council.

Ross Finnie

657



08/12/2003 

09/12/2003 

Belgium 

Visited Scotland House, met some Scottish MEPs and visited UKRep. Also met with representatives of the accession countries based in Brussels.

Tavish Scott

553.77



30/11/2003 

02/12/2003 

Ireland 

Visited the Dublin Docklands Development Corporation, the Irish Planning Appeals Board and a regeneration project. Attended a St Andrews Day reception onboard HMS Ocean and had dinner with Noel Ahern TD and Mary Coughlan TD.

Margaret Curran Mary Mulligan

697



26/11/2003 

27/11/2003 

Belgium 

Attended an EU Competitiveness Council, met with Scottish MEPs and Commissioner Barnier.

Jim Wallace

430.3



26/11/2003 

27/11/2003 

Italy 

Attended an Inter-Institutional conference organised as part of the Italian Presidency of the EU.

Tavish Scott

798



24/11/2003 

 

Belgium 

Attended the Committee of the Regions Constitutional Affairs Commission.

Nicol Stephen

0.00*



24/11/2003 

 

Belgium 

Attended a meeting with Commissioner Fischler and Ben Bradshaw, the UK Fisheries Minister.

Ross Finnie

438.4



24/11/2003 

25/11/2003 

Belgium 

Attended an Education Council.

Peter Peacock

934.79



17/11/2003 

18/11/2003 

Belgium 

Attended an Agriculture and Fisheries Council.

Ross Finnie

638.6



10/11/2003 

12/11/2003 

Austria 

Attended the REGLEG Ministers-Presidents conference. 

Jack McConnell

1,014.52



10/11/2003 

11/11/2003 

Belgium 

Attended a Competitiveness Council. Also met a number of MEPs, John Grant the Head of UKRep, and representatives from the Commission. Also visited Scotland Europa, and took part in Remembrance day events in Ypres.

Andy Kerr

601.18



02/11/2003 

03/11/2003 

France 

Attended a symposium on social affairs.

Margaret Curran

1,191.76



03/11/2003 

04/11/2003 

Netherlands/ Belgium

Attended a ceremony in The Hague ratifying the Hague Convention on Protection of Adults. 

Hugh Henry

632.28



In Brussels met with Europol and Commission officials to discuss the EU Justice and Home Affairs agenda.



31/10/2003 

03/11/2003 

USA 

Attended "dressed to Kilt" event as part of LA Fashion Week. Also undertook a series of visits and meetings to promote Scottish culture and film.

Frank McAveety

2,577.94



26/10/2003 

27/10/2003 

Luxembourg 

Attended an Environment Council.

Ross Finnie

815



23/10/2003 

24/10/2003 

Belgium 

Attended a meeting with Regional Environment Ministers and Commissioner Wallstrom.

Allan Wilson

438.6



19/10/2003 

22/10/2003 

Italy/Belgium 

Attended Informal Council meeting on Regional Policy in Rome and held series of meetings in Brussels.

Jack McConnell

2,255.33



20/10/2003 

22/10/2003 

Italy 

Represented the Executive at the Consistory to mark the Elevation of Archbishop Keith Patrick O'Brien to Cardinal.

Patricia Ferguson

1,470.03



20/10/2003 

27/10/2003 

Japan/ Malaysia/Singapore 

Undertook a series of company meetings and visits regarding life sciences, nanotechnology, Higher Education, textiles, and techmedia. Also opened the SDI's new Singapore incubator for Scottish companies.

Jim Wallace

6,130.08



08/10/2003 

09/10/2003 

Belgium 

Attended a Committee of the Regions meeting.

Nicol Stephen

0.00*



17/09/2003 

19/09/2003 

Germany 

Attended a Ministerial meeting on the Bologna Process for Higher Education reform in Europe.

Lewis Macdonald

1,201.69



17/09/2003 

21/09/2003 

Spain 

Undertook a series of promotion of Scotland events as part of the Executive's co-operation agreement with Catalonia.

Jim Wallace, 
Frank McAveety

2,163.71



27/08/2003 

30/08/2003 

Morocco 

Attended the World Congress on Youth.

Euan Robson

1,227.00



22/08/2003 

29/08/2003 

Netherlands 

Attended the International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law conference.

Colin Boyd

1,070.00



19/08/2003 

21/08/2003 

Sweden 

Fact-finding visit to look at the Swedish integrated services for offenders.

Cathy Jamieson

1,205.20



09/08/2003 

13/08/2003 

USA 

Attended the International Association of Prosecutors Annual Conference. Also visited Red Hook Community project, New York.

Elish Angiolini

4,318.67




13/07/2003 

15/07/2003 

Belgium 

Met Commission President Romano Prodi, Commissioners Neil Kinnock and Margot Wallstrom, and Bart Somers, the Minister President of Flanders. Also met Sir Nigel Sheinwald, and attended a Committee of the Regions Constitution Committee.

Jack McConnell

417.4



07/07/2003 

08/07/2003 

Belgium 

Attended conference on Cohesion and Constitution – the Roles and Responsibilities of the Regions. 

Lewis Macdonald

535.7



02/07/2003 

03/07/2003 

Belgium 

Attended a meeting of the Committee of the Regions.

Nicol Stephen

0.00*



24/06/2003

27/06/2003 

USA 

Attended the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington DC and opened Scottish Development International's office in Boston.

Frank McAveety

2,862.20



15/06/2003 

17/06/2003 

Italy 

Attended launch of European Code Against Cancer and International Symposium on Cancer care.

Malcolm Chisholm

1,251.54






11/06/2003 

13/06/2003 

Luxembourg 

Attended an Agriculture, Fisheries Council, and also an Environment Council.

Ross Finnie

915



23/05/2003 

26/05/2003 

Belgium 

Attended International Bar Association meeting. 

Colin Boyd

789.41



24/04/2003 
 

Belgium 

Met with Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy.

Allan Wilson

524



11/04/2003 

18/04/2003 

Australia 

Attended Commonwealth Law conference.

Colin Boyd

4,108.50



07/04/2003 

08/04/2003 

Luxembourg 

Attended an Agriculture and Fisheries Council.

Ross Finnie

956.46



Total
 
 
 
 

68,365.59

National Health Service

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-8631 by Malcolm Chisholm on 11 June 2004, whether it intends to introduce "mystery shopping" to other areas of the NHS than NHS 24.

Malcolm Chisholm: There are no current plans to introduce further "mystery shopping" initiatives in the NHS at national level. The Executive believes that it is important for the quality of health care services to be independently assessed and reported on. That is why we established NHS Quality Improvement Scotland in January 2003. In addition, we are establishing the Scottish Health Council within NHS Quality Improvement Scotland to ensure that the starting point for improving quality is the experience of every patient who goes through the health care system.

Official Receptions

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-6948 by Mr Andy Kerr on 7 April 2004, which functions or receptions were not paid for by public funds and whether the cost was met by other organisations or individuals and, if so, which organisations or individuals, stating how much was contributed in each case.

Mr Andy Kerr: All but one of the events detailed in my answer to question S2W-6948 on 7 April 2004 were financed from public funds. The exception was the event on 14 November 2003. It was a charity event approved by the First Minister within the provisions of a special scheme that has operated since 1996 by which up to six national charities a year may be given approval to hold an event in Edinburgh Castle. In keeping with the terms of the special scheme referred to, the costs of the event were met entirely by the charity, in this instance, Children in Scotland.

Prisoner Escorts

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-8350 by Cathy Jamieson on 14 June 2004, whether it will require provision of information on wage rates paid to security staff employed by Reliance Secure Task Management Ltd to inform its position in respect of the appropriateness of the continuation and roll-out of the Reliance contract

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-8350 on 14 June 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Renewable Energy

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what options are available to it and industry for the testing of structures and machinery to meet its renewable energy targets.

Lewis Macdonald: The testing of renewable energy devices developed by industry and academia is primarily a matter for those bodies. In order to assist the wave and tidal energy sector we have provided over £2 million towards the European Marine Energy Test Centre off Orkney. The centre will enable our nascent marine energy industry to test, accredit and develop a range of marine energy devices.

Residential Care

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why self-funding patients of care homes have to pay higher amounts for the same quality of care than patients funded by local authorities.

Mr Tom McCabe: Most so called "self funding" care home residents benefit from personal and/or nursing care payments. The remaining fee is normally a private matter between the resident and the care home.

  Residents who qualify for additional local authority support as a result of the financial assessment are asked for a contribution towards their fees, based on the outcome of that assessment.

Scottish Executive Finance

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to reach its target of paying 100% of undisputed bills within 30 days.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive seeks to pay every invoice promptly. I am therefore today setting a target that by December 2004, over 98% of undisputed invoices will be paid consistently within 30 days of receipt or within the terms of specific contracts. This level of performance is comparable with that achieved by other large organisations.

Scottish Natural Heritage

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Services to the Finance Committee on 13 January 2004 that he did not recognise the £45 million figure in respect of the relocation of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) from Edinburgh to Inverness, whether the Executive will now provide a breakdown of its estimate of the (a) total gross and (b) actual net cost of the relocation of SNH, stating the components of the figures in each case.

Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-8598 on 11 June 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Smoking

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive,  with reference to the Smoking Epidemic paragraph on page 11 of the Public Health Institute for Scotland's Two Year Report January 2001 - March 2003, whether the promised "atlas showing estimated smoking prevalence and smoking related mortality rates at post code sector, local authority, parliamentary constituency and NHS board level", due for completion in autumn 2003, has been published; if so, where it can be accessed and, if not, when it will be published.

Mr Tom McCabe: It had been intended that smoking prevalence estimates for the Smoking Atlas of Scotland  would be produced for the Public Health Institute for Scotland, now part of NHS Health Scotland, using data from the Scottish Health Surveys of 1995 and 1998 applied to the Scottish population census 2001. However, because the prevalence of smoking has declined considerably since 1998 and even more so since 1995, an atlas based on these figures would be inaccurate. It has therefore been agreed that the Atlas should be based on the 2003 Scottish Health Survey data, which are unlikely to be available for analysis until early 2005. As a result the Smoking Atlas of Scotland will not now be available until summer 2005.